Discover Spanish Culture via a Culinary Tour of Madrid

Embark on the Tapas and Pintxos Trail

The Mercado de San Miguel, close to Plaza Mayor, is a great place to start your search for tapas and pintxos. Though on first sight you may think it is just another fruit and vegetable market, you will be in for a pleasant surprise, as it is also a haven for tapas and pintxos lovers.
Whet your appetite by first feasting on olive skewers and vermouth wine, goodies that are easily available throughout the market. There are many pintxos stands here. For the uninitiated, these are miniature bites that are great as starters or light snacks. To wash it all down, a glass of fino sherry is highly recommended, its dryness perfectly balancing the bold flavours found across tapas and pintxos dishes.
Continue your tapas and pinxtos search in one of Madrid's countless tapas bars. With so many good options in the city, it can be hard to know where to start, but a few places still manage to stand out. For traditional fare made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, head to Celso y Manolo, The dimly lit, old-school surroundings are a perfect match for the hearty dishes which are best enjoyed with a local wine.
For stylish dining in a relaxed atmosphere, try Estado Puro. Across a range of main and smaller plates, tapas favourites are given a modern, often surprising twist. Alongside dishes such as lobster gazpacho and parmesan ice cream, expect the classics too, including delectable Spanish hams and Tortilla Espanola. The tasting menu, priced at €45, is a great option if you want to sample a wide range of dishes and if you are lucky enough to secure one, dine at one of the bar's outdoor tables.

Learn About the Different Varieties of Ham

Madrid is a fantastic place to learn about Spain's various hams through a ham tasting session. The jamón ibérico de bellota melts in the mouth and is a highly sought-after, premium ham. It comes from pigs that are fed around 7 to 8 kilos of acorns a day. Fancy that! The jamón ibérico de recebo is your typical Spanish ham that comes from the black pig common to both Spain and Portugal, whilst the jamón serrano can be derived from pigs anywhere in the world, as long as they are cured in Spain.

The Museo del Jamon (Museum of Ham) is one of the better places in Madrid to taste and learn about a wide variety of scrumptious hams.

Go On a Delectable Desserts Expedition

Madrid is a city not unfamiliar with sweet treats, so whilst here you really ought to sample the pastries at El Riojano, founded in 1855 by the pastry chef of Queen Isabel. It is no surprise that to this day, the renowned bakery still serves sweetmeats to the royal family of Spain.
Another place you should make a pit stop during your culinary adventure is the convent of Monasterio del Corpus Christi. The specialty here are the traditional sweets made by cloistered nuns. The mantecado de yema, which are basically egg yolk and lard biscuits, are a must-try. It is interesting to note that many of the recipes used in the convent can be traced back to the Romans. So, imagine eating a delectable dessert which was enjoyed just as much thousands of years ago!
Of course, no desserts expedition in Madrid would be complete without a visit to San Gines, Madrid’s most famous churros vendor.

For those unfamiliar, churros are essentially a fried dough pastry snack, usually fashioned in the shape of a horseshoe. The chocolate served with the churros at San Gines deserves its own special mention as it is perfectly thick for dunking your churros in, making each chocolate coated bite sheer heaven. Fancy an early morning breakfast or late night snack? San Gines is open 24 hours a day, you can pop in whenever peckish.
A culinary expedition is truly one of the best ways to discover Madrid's many charms. It is also worth noting, that a food tour is among the best things to do in Madrid at night, when you can simultaneously experience the bustling nightlife of this historic city and its famed cuisine.

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